This Sweden 61 square meter apartment is awesome example how you could use the terrace space. It features a 10 square meter roof terrace which not only features magnificent views of surrounding rooftops but also provides a comfortable place to relaxation.

Read more: www.digsdigs.com

The Villa Amanzi is located above Kamala Beach in Phuket, Thailand and as you can imagine the view is incredible as it looks as far as you can see over the ocean. The home is cantilevered out over the cliff and brings the infinity edge pool with it. There are three main levels to the house. The entertainment level which includes the main living space, diving space, terraces, swimming pool, kitchen, storage and laundry areas. Above this level is the master suite accompanied by three bedrooms each with uninterrupted views of the ocean. The third level which is below the entertainment level, includes two more bedrooms, a private spa and game/family room.

The home was designed by Original Vision Ltd.
Source: blog.wanken.com

ECCO – A zero-emissions mobile living solution by NAU | Future Design Series no. 5
Since their introduction, automobiles have been a source of passion and meanings as individual as their drivers. Today they are often associated with luxury, performance or safety, but the Ecco aims to remind us they can still be about freedom.

Following on the heels of design classics like the Airstream or VW camper van, the Ecco gets passengers to their destination, and becomes a temporary home when they get there. Compact, stylish and aerodynamic while on the road; when it is parked, the Ecco expands to provide a level of space and comfort that its forebearers could only dream of.

The exterior is a harmonious blend of precision aluminum and glass. Its direct and sculptural form cheats the wind while pleasing the eye. While a bit wider than its Volkswagen predecessor, the Ecco’s form is more aerodynamic, and the vehicle rides closer to the ground. The result is vastly improved interior volume, wonderful sight-lines for all passengers, and less wind resistance to boot.

As an all-electric vehicle, the Ecco has no emissions of its own, and can be quickly charged at a standard 240V station. But when used for extended living purposes, even where no electricity is available, its built-in photovoltaic panels and solar sail roof mean that it can cut out the middle man, and charge directly from the sun. The Ecco’s promise: Zero emissions. Zero guilt. Unlimited space to dream.

Source: mmminimal.com

The Tangga House is another Singapore’s dream home designed by Guz Architects. Completed in 2009, the 7,663 square foot residence is located in Holland Village, an elite district of Singapore that is famous amongst the expatriate community. The luxury single-family home gives the owners the opportunity to live in harmony and comfort with nature, in Singapore’s hot tropical climate.

Tangga House by Guz Architects: “The house is a contemporary interpretation of a traditional courtyard house, laid out around a central green courtyard with a double height stair and entry area forming the focal point of the project. The L-shaped plan creates open spaces which encourage natural ventilation and offer resident’s views over the courtyard to the veranda, roof gardens and beyond. Lushly planted roof gardens surround the house and add to the effect that nature is evident in every part of the house. The large roof above the courtyard creates an indoor and outdoor space leading to the gardens and swimming pool which wraps around two sides of the house. Maryland Drive is a modest and luxurious residential design which gives residents opportunities to live in harmony and comfortably with nature.”

Click on images for high resolution.

Source: guzarchitects.com

Designed by architect Enrique Barascout, Villa Mayana is a luxurious residence located near Hermosa Beach in Costa Rica. Completed in 2010, the villa is nestled high atop the 75-acre Achiote Private Reserve with magnificent ocean views while being just steps from the beach. Villa Mayana provides its guests with the comfort of a five-star resort, while maintaining privacy for the ultimate Costa Rican vacation experience.

Source: villamayana.com

Challenging Expectations. While the idea itself is pretty straight forward, it challenges the assumptions we make about familiar objects. “People have a lot of immediate associations with everyday things, especially iconic ones,” says Joe Sullivan, industrial designer at Carbon Design Group, a Seattle-based product development consultancy. “It’s interesting to play with these expectations. In this case, we’re taking a well-known object out of its normal context and giving it new capabilities, allowing it to function as something completely different.”

“The numbering scheme on dominoes and dice developed as a way to represent numbers that’s immediately recognizable, so in a lot of ways it makes perfect sense to use it as a time piece,” explains Sullivan. “Everyone gets it, but the fact that we’re not used to seeing it in this context makes it unexpected at the same time.” It’s this shift in context that gives the concept a twist.

Fueling the Passion. The Domino Clock was one of a number of ideas bubbling up in the Carbon studio when it was selected to be a Carbon Passion Project. Similar to Google’s 20% Time, Carbon’s Passion Projects are designed to fuel the creative spark. “They’re a way to push the boundaries… to try something new, to take a break from the constraints of client projects and play a little,” explains Dan Blase, President of Carbon Design Group. “These projects foster Carbon’s culture of learning and play, and, at the same time, give our team the variety they thrive on.”

Making it Real. Simple ideas often require a good deal of work to keep them simple. “Form-wise, it’s a very literal reference to a domino, so 95% of the up-front heavy-lifting from an aesthetic standpoint is defined from the get-go,” says Sullivan. Once the form is set, the conversation moves quickly to feel and function. The reference to real dominoes plays heavily here as well. From their playful falling motion, to the weight of the ceramic materials in your hand, dominoes have very specific physical qualities inherent to them. “The clock wants to communicate these same qualities, from the materials down to the precise motion of the dots.”

Source : carbondesign

This house, located in Cuernavas, Morelos, Mexico, was constructed as a family residence in 2006. When designing it, Architect Augusto Fernandez Mas (K+A Diseño) focused on space and comfort. The nature around the house was also kept in mind as the architecture blends beautifully into the surrounding landscape by the use of materials such as wood, stone and metal that reflect the natural surroundings.

Source: blog.wanken.com